Steven Bergamo doesn’t have hope for the high school wrestling season. He has expectations.

The Vineland senior entered last year with dreams of making the NJSIAA Individual State Tournament for the first time. Those dreams turned into reality when he became the first Fighting Clan grappler since 2003 to punch his ticket to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

When asked how the experience changed him entering this season, he spoke with a confidence he lacked just 12 months earlier.

“That’s definitely the plan,” said Bergamo about if he thinks he’ll return to Atlantic City in 2015. “I would hope not to be upset before that.”

Bergamo doesn’t act arrogant, but he’s not nervous anymore either. Not making the state tournament before weighed much heavier on him that attempting to get there again.

“It was such a big goal to get to and now once I got there, it relieved so much stress and so much pressure off me,” he said. “It’s just easier now.”

Bergamo went 26-4 at 106 pounds last season, finishing second in both District 31 and Region 8, and won a match in Atlantic City.

His success has made him a role model on the team.

“I think he’s matured quite a bit,” coach Dave Homiak said. “He’s come back and he’s acting like a leader, like he should, the guy that did the best on the team, made the state tournament. He’s very proactive in the room and he’s supportive of the kids and I’m proud of him. He’s working real hard. It’s not that he didn’t work hard before, I think he’s making a special effort.”

In years past, Bergamo was more of the quiet type, someone who kept to himself, went on the mat and performed.

He’s not silent anymore.

“We do a lot of running in the room, and if you get somebody that’s new and they’re falling behind a little bit, Steven is trying to spur that kid on, you got to do it, work hard, not nagging the kid, but supporting the kid,” Homiak said. “That’s what we want in the room. That’s what Steven is doing. He never really did that before.

“I’m really proud of the fact that he’s sort of stepping up to the plate. He went further than everyone else on the team, and everyone knows it. He finally realized with greatness comes great responsibility. He’s growing up and he understands that.”

One of the biggest lessons Bergamo took from last season was how important practice was, he said. Putting in the work pays off at the end of the year. He wants his teammates to understand that too.

“I feel like everybody kind of looks up to me now because of (reaching the state tournament), and that really makes me feel like I need to work harder and makes me want to push everybody,” Bergamo said.

Vineland, as a team, has huge goals this season as the Fighting Clan are trying to garner their first playoff appearance since 1987, according to Homiak.

But Bergamo’s go beyond that. He not only wants to make the playoffs, he wants multiple Vineland wrestlers to make it to Atlantic City.

“We got a good team this year,” he said. “On paper, we got a good team, and if everybody keeps up how we’re working and keeps up the intensity, we can all make it.”

Personally, there’s only one goal. Only one outcome will satisfy Bergamo.

“Place high on the podium and that’s it,” he said. “Go there and see what I can do.”